Mattress or Foam

Safari Tim · 03-13-2007, 03:15 PM

I'm getting ready to do something with the twin beds in the Ambassador.

I'm trying to decide if I should have some custom matresses made or go with some kind of foam.

We always had trouble getting a good nights sleep on the foam beds in my last trailer and ended up getting an air bed to help.

So I'm kind of leaning toward mattresses. With the twin bed frame support a mattress?

A second queston. What kind of couch/bed is the most comfortable when in the bed position? The flip down kind when you sleep on the sofa cushions or the pull out like a hide-a-bed?

ljmiii · 03-13-2007, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Safari Tim

I'm trying to decide if I should have some custom matresses made or go with some kind of foam....

We are very happy with out custom cut tempur-pedic mattress - www.savvysleeper.com

If you are at all interested you should try a tempur-pedic at a store near you - we like sleeping on them, but of course your mileage may vary.

enjoy,
leo

Wharf Rats · 03-13-2007, 04:52 PM

Tim, Latex foam is also very comfortable without the side effects of memory foam, but it's also more expensive. Google latex foam and check it out. --Mark--

InsideOut · 03-13-2007, 04:54 PM

I would think the gaucho style is more efficient space-wise than the convertable sofa-style. Gauchos are custom fit to the wall and I believe the convertable type will need "extra room" for the frame in the round corners.

If it were me, I would go with "real" materesses (custom to fit?) if they are fixed beds and foam if they are a gaucho-type bed. The reason being I wouldn't want the rolled seam in the middle where the joint is in a gaucho...make sense? Also, the foam will be lighter for manipulating when making the bed each time it is folded down & moved.

Shari

Marti · 03-13-2007, 04:55 PM

I just ordered two mattress from Mattress discounters for my Overlander... they can special order them for you...

**flyfshr** · 03-13-2007, 09:05 PM

We put in mattresses from Bed Direct. They were special order but the salesman called me a couple days after ordering and said if they could be 4 inches shorter, it would save us over $100. We decided we needed space to tuck in the blankets and the shorter length was perfect.

Brad
FF

Foiled Again · 04-15-2007, 03:19 PM

Will they do custom sizes? What would a curved queen cost? How about weight? I don't want to replace a 20 lb mattress with a 100 lb mattress.

I have the transverse queen on the 25 FB SE.

Thanks in advance.

Paula Ford

cosmotini · 04-15-2007, 03:29 PM

Tim,

I just got a quote from an upholsterer for some new foam last Friday.

She apologized before giving me the quote because foam prices have gone "through the roof" since it's a petroleum product.

Just be prepared.

muddy_hollow · 04-15-2007, 04:49 PM

I went throught the process of creating my own cushions on my 65 globetrotter and it wasn't the hardest job, but I think there are so many subtle differences in foam that unless you know the industry or have done it before it's a gamble IMO.

On our 56, I am going to have a rear twin and a bunk above. I started thinking about a custom mattress or doing it myself, both have pros and cons. Then on a recent trip to Ikea I took a quick tour of their mattresses and was pretty pleased with the quality of the foam and the price. Price and value... whoa.

For mine, I'll need to cut a radius on one corner to match the rear but I am thinking about using a hotwire (Aircraft spruce carries it) and a variac transformer (which I already own) to cut an IKEA foam/memory foam mattress. The cover has a zipper and I can either tuck the extra material in or shape the cover to fit. I'm inclined to do some time on the sewing machine to make it look good.

For the top bunk, I will do something similar. Something else to keep in mind is that with all latex/foam mattresses you will need to have them vented. Slats or a perforated base will be required.

HTH,

D

loudruff · 04-15-2007, 06:56 PM

Larry and I purchased the foam and reupholstered our gauchos in the Argosy Minuet. A cheap electric (meat) carving knife does a beautiful job of cutting foam. Draw your radius and have at it!
Lou and Larry

thecatsandi · 04-15-2007, 07:41 PM

Tim,
How about both?
I took the factory matress and added a 2 inch memory foam topper rom Camping world. Quite comfortable. Support from the mattress, comfort from the foam.

Safari Tim · 04-15-2007, 07:52 PM

True, I'm just looking at having to have something custom built so may as well get it all in one.

uwe · 04-15-2007, 08:23 PM

Tim,

A fellow forum member set me up with a very nice combination of foam. It is actually similar to what Airstream used in the 60's. My setup consists of a 3in layer of firm foam, and a 2in layer on top of that made of latex foam. The bed feels heavenly, actually more comforable than my bed at home. A thicker combination of foams would be even more comfortable, but in y case was not practical because my bed would have ended up too high off the ground for my little darling wife ( 5'2 with attitude)
I would stay away from innerspring mattresses for a trailer. The ones that I reseacehd were hugely expensive, and quite heavy. Plus, they are uncomfortable unless they're approaching 8in in thickness. Good quality foam is also expensive, but to my physique it proved to be a much better choice.
They key here is to buy only top shelf foam, not cheap alternatives.

stagecoachbill · 04-15-2007, 08:53 PM

I have a 69 31' sovereign. We replaced the front goucho cushions that were ruined with a fouton mattress, Not a good choice. Want to go back to form cuahions. Problem is we threw out the old cushions and I could use some help with dimensiion. What is the width of the original seat part of the cushions? How wide is the cushion that becomes the back of the sofa ?
any help would be appreciated?